Latest news with #AssociationofMiningandExplorationCompanies
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
Miners erupts over major renewables projects as AMEC calls for national coordination to solve battles over land access
Renewable energy projects seeking exclusive access to large swathes of land are 'sterilising resources in the ground' by denying mining groups access, an industry leader has warned. The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies commissioned a report highlighting mounting tensions between the mining industry and the tidal wave of renewable energy projects as they compete for access to the same land. AMEC's report calls for a 'coordinated' approach to accessing land and for the same pieces of land to be accessed by multiple industries where appropriate. The association estimates Australia's land mass would need to be double its current size to deliver exclusive rights to all land users, which includes agriculture, mining and pastoral industries such as poultry farming and livestock grazing. AMEC's chief executive Warren Pearce said players behind renewables projects were vying for exclusive use of the land to avoid what they perceived as 'inconvenience or potential interference'. He noted the mining, agriculture and pastoral industries had historically faced challenges over land access and established practices that enabled each sector to co-exist on the same land. 'That can happen with renewables too,' Mr Pearce told Business Now. 'Renewable projects are absolutely huge. They are massive land users. Think about the size of wind farms. To build a mine is going to take up less than one per cent of that wind farm. 'It's quite easy to imagine that windfarm going ahead with having that little bit excised out.' Mr Pearce said renewable project developers were seeking exclusive tenure and certainty of land access and would 'often cut out' other land users. 'We're seeing expiration projects extinguished before they begin without any real certainty that the renewable project will ever be built or invested in,' he said. 'That's a real problem. We're sterilising resource in the ground before we find out if they're there or not.' Contributions from Australia's major land-based industries – which added $493b to the economy in 2024 – are under threat from these practices, according to the AMEC-commissioned report. The report stressed that a 'coordinated national policy response' can turn the 'emerging crisis' into an 'opportunity for cooperation'. Mr Pearce said each state and territory has a different approach to managing land access, creating difficulties for land management. 'One of the things that's concerning is you've got major global renewable proponents talking to multiple state and territorial governments, but with only the investment capital to invest in one project,' he said. 'We're actually locking up land without any idea whether these projects will move forward because the states and territories aren't talking to each other. 'We need coordination. We need a national response.' Mr Pearce's comments come as about a dozen green hydrogen projects have either failed or been delayed over the past year. One Australian project from Andrew Forrest's Fortescue recently went under, while energy giant BP last month scrapped a $54b project in Western Australia.
West Australian
5 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Better together: Push for Federal Government to force mining and green energy to co-exist
Australia might be known as the great southern land, but an escalating fight for space has industry leaders calling for the Federal Government to intervene to ensure mining and renewable energy projects can co-exist. A new report by the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies is warning that priority access for green energy developers is putting the lucrative mining industry at risk, thrusting the issue on the agenda ahead of this month's national economic roundtable. 'We have many more competing uses for the land, no consistent rules and established industries that provide the foundational base of our economy forced to play second fiddle,' AMEC chief executive Warren Pearce said. 'It's paralysing mining development, sterilising resources and it's entirely avoidable.' The AMEC report, Congested & Contested - Co-existence The Key to Unlocking Productivity, warns that tax and royalty revenue of $493 billion is at stake, due to 'uncertainty, delays and conflict' over land use. It reports that a preference for exclusive rights is locking mining exploration out, including in WA's Mid-West. Toolonga Mineral Sand's tenements for coccolith chalk near Kalbarri were terminated, to make way for the foreign-owned Murchison Green Hydrogen Project that has been awarded major project status from the Federal Government and received $814 million in Headstart funding. 'We have stated that we we can coexist. But no, the Minister has ignored that request,' Toolonga Mineral Sands managing director Ann Conlan-Nash said. 'As far as the Murchison green hydrogen project, we know that they're not going to do anything up there for probably five to six years. 'We could have been moving forward since 2020. It's been five years that we've been waiting, fighting.' AMEC said it's an example of the rush to renewable energy 'running roughshod' over regional communities and risking a backlash from locals. The AMEC report found meeting demand from both industries would require an equivalent of 'two Australia's' if exclusive rights are applied to all 77 million square kilometres of land. Mr Pearce said the solution was diversification leases that had been attempted, but not often taken up, in WA. 'This has actually become a really big problem in regional WA,' he said. 'Despite the fact that all of these renewable energy project proponents say they don't require exclusive licences, not one of them are using the diversification leases. They're opting for a section 79 lease which provides exclusive tenure. 'It means they're pursuing a path that tries to lock out other users and that's the worst possible outcome.' He's lobbying for a national model, to ensure consistency and offer investors certainty. 'Everyone benefits, because the highest value land use is multiple land use,' Mr Pearce said. 'The reality is you can do these things without actually ruining the overall purpose or economic benefit of the wind farm. 99 per cent of it will remain untouched. You just need to take a piece out of it. 'That piece creates jobs, taxation, revenues and, of course, royalties, as well as what's going on with the wind farm.'
Sky News AU
14-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
‘Critical for WA': Speculation over Federal Government response to North West Shelf Project
Association of Mining and Exploration Companies Chief Executive Warren Pearce says the Federal Government has 'refused to tip their hats' regarding the North West Shelf Project. 'It's critical for Western Australia – so the North West Shelf Project was built in the seventies, it's a major onshore gas processing facility just on Dampier on our northwest coast,' Mr Pearce told Sky News Australia. 'The Federal Government has refused to tip their hats, so to speak, about what they're going to do with this.'
7NEWS
12-05-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
Anthony Albanese sworn in as prime minister for the second time alongside refreshed ministry
Anthony Albanese has been sworn in as prime minister for the second time alongside a refreshed ministry, as the mining industry welcomes an environment 'reset'. The ceremony was conducted by Governor-General Sam Mostyn at Government House on Tuesday morning. The prime minister unveiled his new front bench on Monday following Labor's landslide win at the May 3 election. Albanese labelled the environment as a significant policy area to his reform agenda, as conservation groups push for nature protection laws. Murray Watt will move to the environment portfolio from employment and workplace relations, replacing Tanya Plibersek. The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies said Watt's appointment presented an opportunity to 'reset' a portfolio that had confused and frustrated industry. The Business Council declared it stood ready to help the government ensure environmental protections deliver for both the economy and nature. Watt's promotion from agriculture to the environment portfolio was a step in the right direction, the Australian Conservation Foundation said. 'Nature in Australia is under intense pressure and the national nature law is not working,' the foundation's chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said. 'The Albanese government went to the 2022 election promising thorough reform of the law. That promise remains unfulfilled. It's time to get on with the job. 'There can be no more delays, caving to lobby groups and carving out industries: the Albanese government must fix Australia's nature laws in the first year of this term of parliament.' But long-time environmental warrior and Greens founder Bob Brown said the appointment represented a regression in environmental protection. 'The only good thing coming out of Watt's appointment is that it will create many more jobs in environmental activism,' he said. Plibersek has been shifted to social services. The writing had been on the wall after Albanese went over the top of Plibersek to dump environmental laws after lobbying from West Australian stakeholders. The most senior ministerial positions in the Albanese government's second term will largely stay the same, although Mark Dreyfus was dumped as attorney-general following factional dealings. Anne Aly joins cabinet as the nation's first Muslim female minister. Dr Aly's promotion reflects a greater focus on WA after the state helped deliver Labor a second consecutive federal election win.
The Advertiser
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Industry welcomes 'reset' with ministry to be sworn in
Anthony Albanese will be sworn in as prime minister for the second time alongside a refreshed ministry, as the mining industry welcomes an environment "reset". The ceremony will be conducted by Governor-General Sam Mostyn and will take place at Government House on Tuesday morning. The prime minister unveiled his new front bench on Monday following Labor's landslide win at the May 3 election. Mr Albanese labelled the environment as a significant policy area to his reform agenda, as conservation groups push for nature protection laws. Murray Watt will move to the environment portfolio from employment and workplace relations, replacing Tanya Plibersek. The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies said Mr Watt's appointment presented an opportunity to "reset" a portfolio that had confused and frustrated industry. The Business Council declared it stood ready to help the government ensure environmental protections deliver for both the economy and nature. Mr Watt's promotion from agriculture to the environment portfolio was a step in the right direction, the Australian Conservation Foundation said. "Nature in Australia is under intense pressure and the national nature law is not working," the foundation's chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said. "The Albanese government went to the 2022 election promising thorough reform of the law. That promise remains unfulfilled. It's time to get on with the job. "There can be no more delays, caving to lobby groups and carving out industries: the Albanese government must fix Australia's nature laws in the first year of this term of parliament." But long-time environmental warrior and Greens founder Bob Brown said the appointment represented a regression in environmental protection. "The only good thing coming out of (Mr) Watt's appointment is that it will create many more jobs in environmental activism," he said. Ms Plibersek has been shifted to social services. The writing had been on the wall after Mr Albanese went over the top of Ms Plibersek to dump environmental laws after lobbying from West Australian stakeholders. The most senior ministerial positions in the Albanese government's second term will largely stay the same, although Mark Dreyfus was dumped as attorney-general following factional dealings. Anne Aly joins cabinet as the nation's first Muslim female minister. Dr Aly's promotion reflects a greater focus on WA after the state helped deliver Labor a second consecutive federal election win. Anthony Albanese will be sworn in as prime minister for the second time alongside a refreshed ministry, as the mining industry welcomes an environment "reset". The ceremony will be conducted by Governor-General Sam Mostyn and will take place at Government House on Tuesday morning. The prime minister unveiled his new front bench on Monday following Labor's landslide win at the May 3 election. Mr Albanese labelled the environment as a significant policy area to his reform agenda, as conservation groups push for nature protection laws. Murray Watt will move to the environment portfolio from employment and workplace relations, replacing Tanya Plibersek. The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies said Mr Watt's appointment presented an opportunity to "reset" a portfolio that had confused and frustrated industry. The Business Council declared it stood ready to help the government ensure environmental protections deliver for both the economy and nature. Mr Watt's promotion from agriculture to the environment portfolio was a step in the right direction, the Australian Conservation Foundation said. "Nature in Australia is under intense pressure and the national nature law is not working," the foundation's chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said. "The Albanese government went to the 2022 election promising thorough reform of the law. That promise remains unfulfilled. It's time to get on with the job. "There can be no more delays, caving to lobby groups and carving out industries: the Albanese government must fix Australia's nature laws in the first year of this term of parliament." But long-time environmental warrior and Greens founder Bob Brown said the appointment represented a regression in environmental protection. "The only good thing coming out of (Mr) Watt's appointment is that it will create many more jobs in environmental activism," he said. Ms Plibersek has been shifted to social services. The writing had been on the wall after Mr Albanese went over the top of Ms Plibersek to dump environmental laws after lobbying from West Australian stakeholders. The most senior ministerial positions in the Albanese government's second term will largely stay the same, although Mark Dreyfus was dumped as attorney-general following factional dealings. Anne Aly joins cabinet as the nation's first Muslim female minister. Dr Aly's promotion reflects a greater focus on WA after the state helped deliver Labor a second consecutive federal election win. Anthony Albanese will be sworn in as prime minister for the second time alongside a refreshed ministry, as the mining industry welcomes an environment "reset". The ceremony will be conducted by Governor-General Sam Mostyn and will take place at Government House on Tuesday morning. The prime minister unveiled his new front bench on Monday following Labor's landslide win at the May 3 election. Mr Albanese labelled the environment as a significant policy area to his reform agenda, as conservation groups push for nature protection laws. Murray Watt will move to the environment portfolio from employment and workplace relations, replacing Tanya Plibersek. The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies said Mr Watt's appointment presented an opportunity to "reset" a portfolio that had confused and frustrated industry. The Business Council declared it stood ready to help the government ensure environmental protections deliver for both the economy and nature. Mr Watt's promotion from agriculture to the environment portfolio was a step in the right direction, the Australian Conservation Foundation said. "Nature in Australia is under intense pressure and the national nature law is not working," the foundation's chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said. "The Albanese government went to the 2022 election promising thorough reform of the law. That promise remains unfulfilled. It's time to get on with the job. "There can be no more delays, caving to lobby groups and carving out industries: the Albanese government must fix Australia's nature laws in the first year of this term of parliament." But long-time environmental warrior and Greens founder Bob Brown said the appointment represented a regression in environmental protection. "The only good thing coming out of (Mr) Watt's appointment is that it will create many more jobs in environmental activism," he said. Ms Plibersek has been shifted to social services. The writing had been on the wall after Mr Albanese went over the top of Ms Plibersek to dump environmental laws after lobbying from West Australian stakeholders. The most senior ministerial positions in the Albanese government's second term will largely stay the same, although Mark Dreyfus was dumped as attorney-general following factional dealings. Anne Aly joins cabinet as the nation's first Muslim female minister. Dr Aly's promotion reflects a greater focus on WA after the state helped deliver Labor a second consecutive federal election win. Anthony Albanese will be sworn in as prime minister for the second time alongside a refreshed ministry, as the mining industry welcomes an environment "reset". The ceremony will be conducted by Governor-General Sam Mostyn and will take place at Government House on Tuesday morning. The prime minister unveiled his new front bench on Monday following Labor's landslide win at the May 3 election. Mr Albanese labelled the environment as a significant policy area to his reform agenda, as conservation groups push for nature protection laws. Murray Watt will move to the environment portfolio from employment and workplace relations, replacing Tanya Plibersek. The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies said Mr Watt's appointment presented an opportunity to "reset" a portfolio that had confused and frustrated industry. The Business Council declared it stood ready to help the government ensure environmental protections deliver for both the economy and nature. Mr Watt's promotion from agriculture to the environment portfolio was a step in the right direction, the Australian Conservation Foundation said. "Nature in Australia is under intense pressure and the national nature law is not working," the foundation's chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said. "The Albanese government went to the 2022 election promising thorough reform of the law. That promise remains unfulfilled. It's time to get on with the job. "There can be no more delays, caving to lobby groups and carving out industries: the Albanese government must fix Australia's nature laws in the first year of this term of parliament." But long-time environmental warrior and Greens founder Bob Brown said the appointment represented a regression in environmental protection. "The only good thing coming out of (Mr) Watt's appointment is that it will create many more jobs in environmental activism," he said. Ms Plibersek has been shifted to social services. The writing had been on the wall after Mr Albanese went over the top of Ms Plibersek to dump environmental laws after lobbying from West Australian stakeholders. The most senior ministerial positions in the Albanese government's second term will largely stay the same, although Mark Dreyfus was dumped as attorney-general following factional dealings. Anne Aly joins cabinet as the nation's first Muslim female minister. Dr Aly's promotion reflects a greater focus on WA after the state helped deliver Labor a second consecutive federal election win.
